I had a dengue scare earlier this month when my whole family fell ill and couldn’t recover from fever. I thought it was dengue.

Dengue is contracted from the bite of a striped Aedes aegypti mosquito that has previously bitten an infected person. The mosquito flourishes during rainy seasons but can breed in water-filled flower pots, plastic bags, and cans year-round. One mosquito bite can cause the disease. It is important to note that the virus is not contagious and cannot be spread directly from person to person. There must be a person-to-mosquito-to-another-person pathway

After being bitten by a mosquito carrying the virus, the incubation period ranges from three to 15 (usually five to eight) days before the signs and symptoms of dengue appear in stages. Dengue starts with chills, headache, pain upon moving the eyes, and low backache. Painful aching in the legs and joints occurs during the first hours of illness. The temperature rises quickly as high as 104 F (40 C), with relatively low heart rate (bradycardia) and low blood pressure (hypotension). The eyes become reddened. A flushing or pale pink rash comes over the face and then disappears. The glands (lymph nodes) in the neck and groin are often swollen.

Fever and other signs of dengue last for two to four days, followed by a rapid drop in body temperature (defervescence) with profuse sweating. This precedes a period with normal temperature and a sense of well-being that lasts about a day. A second rapid rise in temperature follows. A characteristic rash appears along with the fever and spreads from the extremities to cover the entire body except the face. The palms and soles may be bright red and swollen.

Here’s sharing with you on how to prevent dengue:

• Avoid stagnated water pools. The breeding place for the dengue mosquito is stagnated waters. So steer clear from any pool of water that is left still and standing for more than a day. This is the deadliest since it will be an avenue for the mosquitoes to breed and form health hazards not just in your place, but in your entire community.
• Housecleaning. Another thing that makes mosquitoes party is dirt. Keep your house clean and you will be able to prevent unnecessary dengue risks.
•  Deal with sweat A.S.A.P. The problem with sweat is that it is the favorite scent of mosquitoes. Chronic sweaters are really at a higher risk. So that talcum powder for your back may do more good in absorbing excess sweat that will serve as invitation for mosquitoes to pounce. Use an all-natural insect repellent.
•  Check drainage. You may not have pools of water in your midst, but you need to check your drainage regularly to see if the water is flowing correctly.
•  Minimize crowding. Crowding is another lure for mosquito bites. So make sure you stay in a place with ample open spaces.
•  Mosquito nets. You can’t really guard the mosquitoes in your sleep, but you can filter them out of your bed with the use of mosquito nets. They may be unattractive and a nuisance for some, but in reality, you can style it to suit your home décor.
•  Neem tree and Basil leaves. The neem tree is a bit of an investment, but it purifies your air well against unwelcome elements like mosquitoes. The basil leaves, when boiled and served as tea, builds up the body’s immune system.

Cleffairy: Prevention is better than cure, and if you have dengue symptoms, do not wait and seek medical attention immediately.